Latest news with #Confucianism
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Confucian wisdom joins AI debate
Tourists visit Nishan Sacredland scenic spot in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo) JINAN (July 14): In the birthplace of Confucius, who has been revered as a symbol of China's traditional culture, visitors are now greeted not by ancient scrolls or silent statues, but by an AI-powered guide. Under the glow of digital light and amid the echo of classical music, tourists from around the world follow this soft-spoken robot through Luyuan Village in Shandong Province, and set off on a 2,500-year journey into Confucian philosophy. Here, holograms flicker across temple walls, real-life actors blend with virtual scenes, and centuries-old teachings unfold through immersive garden trails. It's a jarring yet mesmerizing collision of past and future, where ritual meets algorithm, and ancient wisdom is reimagined through the lens of artificial intelligence. Just a 10-minute drive away, at another tourist site known as Nishan Sacredland, a different kind of gathering is underway. More than 560 guests from over 70 countries have convened at an ambitious forum on world civilizations, exploring questions from whether Confucius would embrace AI if he lived today, to how humanity can preserve creativity in an era of globalized artificial intelligence. Among those weighing in was Wang Junlin, a professor and director of the Confucius Institute of Culture at Qufu Normal University. 'I believe Confucius would embrace and make use of AI, but only under the guidance of the Dao,' Wang said, referring to the ancient Chinese concept of moral order and cosmic principle. Technology, in his view, should serve humanity, not the other way around. Guests attend the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng) Some at the forum voiced concerns that as AI moves deeper into the fabric of daily life and work, it risks giving rise to a new form of technological hegemony. 'If AI focuses solely on rapid iteration without proper ethical direction, it could easily stray from our original intentions,' said Wen Haiming, a professor of philosophy at Renmin University of China. In search of answers, scholars pointed to Chinese philosophy, and Confucianism in particular, as a possible guide. Kanaev Ilya, a visiting scholar from Russia at the Advanced Institute for Confucius Studies at Shandong University, argued that the Confucian idea of 'harmony without uniformity' provides a crucial framework for the development of AI. He called for the creation of collective synchronization mechanisms that preserve cultural diversity while helping to establish clear ethical guidelines for AI. 'As emerging technologies evolve, establishing prudent assessment systems and robust regulatory frameworks is essential,' said Kanaev Ilya. His views were shared by others at the forum, who urged lawmakers to define clear boundaries for AI use and to draw ethical red lines through thoughtful institutional design. Participants also explored one of the most closely watched questions surrounding AI: whether its rapid rise could ultimately stifle human creativity. Steve Fuller, a professor of sociology at the University of Warwick, offered a more nuanced perspective. 'AI does not rob humanity of its creativity but teaches us the nature of human creativity,' he said. According to Fuller, AI is recombining the products of human intelligence in previously unimagined ways, generating novel forms of expression that surprise people because they tap into creative patterns that humans have yet to fully explore. – Xinhua artificial intelligence China Confucius digital technology
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
CGTN: Beauty in diversity: How wisdom at Nishan Forum inspires global modernization
BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 10 July 2025 - As the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations takes place in east China's Qufu City, CGTN published an article highlighting the importance of dialogue and mutual learning among civilizations to promote harmonious coexistence, shared prosperity, and the safeguarding of traditional values in the face of modern challenges. 'Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?' This opening question and well-known saying from the Analects of Confucius has been transformed into a vivid reality as experts and scholars from across the world gathered at the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations in east China's Qufu City. The forum is named after Nishan Mountain, formerly known as the Ni Qiu Hill, about 30 kilometers southeast of Qufu – the birthplace of the great Chinese thinker and educator Confucius (551-479 BC). Since its first edition in 2010, the forum has become a platform for understanding China and fostering international cultural and civilizational exchanges. Taking place from Wednesday to Thursday, the 11th Nishan Forum attracted more than 500 global leaders, scholars and cultural figures to explore the role of ancient wisdom in shaping the modern world with the theme of 'Beauty in Diversity: Nurturing Understanding Among Civilizations for Global Modernization.' Understanding among civilizations highlighted Scholars at the forum underscored the essential role that cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations play in advancing human progress. Noting armed conflicts have resurfaced in today's turbulent world, Madagascar's Ambassador to China Jean Louis Robinson spoke highly of the forum, saying that its role in promoting harmonious coexistence and shared prosperity among diverse cultures and civilizations has become all the more significant. China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) won praise from foreign participants. In March 2023, China introduced the GCI, which calls for respect for global civilizational diversity, the promotion of shared human values, the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and the strengthening of international cultural exchanges. Hussain Mohamed Latheef, vice president of the Republic of Maldives, described the GCI as a timely reminder of the need to respect and understand diverse cultures worldwide. 'The initiative promotes shared human values, aims to balance tradition with innovation, and supports cultural exchange and development,' Latheef added. Some of the experts spoke highly of the influence of Confucianism, which is known for its five key concepts, namely benevolence, or 'ren' in Chinese, righteousness, or 'yi,' propriety, 'li,' wisdom, 'zhi,' and trustworthiness, 'xin.' Dr Salome Nyambura, director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, told CGTN that close people-to-people exchanges between China and Kenya have made more Kenyans interested in Confucianism. Echoing Nyambura, Riccardo Pozzo, professor of History of Philosophy at Tor Vergata University of Rome, said that Confucianism can provide valuable solutions to bridge traditional and modern issues and solve modern problems, citing the saying from the Analects that 'If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge and continually acquires new knowledge, he may become a teacher to others.' Global modernization deeply rooted in fertile soil of civilizations As well as fueling academic dialogue and people-to-people connections, exchanges among civilizations are also expected to generate valuable insights to tackle global challenges and open up diverse pathways for modernization. China is committed to offering new opportunities to the world through the achievements of its unique path to modernization, and providing new momentum to global partners through its vast domestic market, Sun Chunlan, president of the International Confucian Association, said when addressing the opening of the forum. China's poverty alleviation efforts and global cooperation on poverty reduction have provided relevant examples, demonstrating that the development of civilization should be 'people-oriented' and that the fruits of development can benefit more groups. Wang Xuedian, vice president of the International Confucian Association, said that civilizations must engage in dialogue and mutual learning to explore development paths that align with their own cultural contexts. By drawing on advanced productive forces and promoting traditional values, different civilizations can bridge developmental gaps and realize the common prosperity and harmonious coexistence of multiple civilizations, Wang added. As for Latheef, humanity must work together to safeguard cultural traditions and values while embracing new ideas and changes to adapt to global modernization. Roger T. Ames, professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Hawaii and Humanities Chair Professor at Peking University, said that the urgent task is to transform individualism into a conscious awareness of a united global community, adding that the Confucian values of fairness, inclusiveness and harmony offer valuable guidance for addressing the pressing challenges of the modern world.
Arabian Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Arabian Post
CGTN: Beauty in diversity: How wisdom at Nishan Forum inspires global modernization
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 July 2025 – As the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations takes place in east China's Qufu City, CGTN published an article highlighting the importance of dialogue and mutual learning among civilizations to promote harmonious coexistence, shared prosperity, and the safeguarding of traditional values in the face of modern challenges. 'Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?' This opening question and well-known saying from the Analects of Confucius has been transformed into a vivid reality as experts and scholars from across the world gathered at the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations in east China's Qufu City. The forum is named after Nishan Mountain, formerly known as the Ni Qiu Hill, about 30 kilometers southeast of Qufu – the birthplace of the great Chinese thinker and educator Confucius (551-479 BC). Since its first edition in 2010, the forum has become a platform for understanding China and fostering international cultural and civilizational exchanges. ADVERTISEMENT Taking place from Wednesday to Thursday, the 11th Nishan Forum attracted more than 500 global leaders, scholars and cultural figures to explore the role of ancient wisdom in shaping the modern world with the theme of 'Beauty in Diversity: Nurturing Understanding Among Civilizations for Global Modernization.' Understanding among civilizations highlighted Scholars at the forum underscored the essential role that cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations play in advancing human progress. Noting armed conflicts have resurfaced in today's turbulent world, Madagascar's Ambassador to China Jean Louis Robinson spoke highly of the forum, saying that its role in promoting harmonious coexistence and shared prosperity among diverse cultures and civilizations has become all the more significant. China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) won praise from foreign participants. In March 2023, China introduced the GCI, which calls for respect for global civilizational diversity, the promotion of shared human values, the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and the strengthening of international cultural exchanges. ADVERTISEMENT Hussain Mohamed Latheef, vice president of the Republic of Maldives, described the GCI as a timely reminder of the need to respect and understand diverse cultures worldwide. 'The initiative promotes shared human values, aims to balance tradition with innovation, and supports cultural exchange and development,' Latheef added. Some of the experts spoke highly of the influence of Confucianism, which is known for its five key concepts, namely benevolence, or 'ren' in Chinese, righteousness, or 'yi,' propriety, 'li,' wisdom, 'zhi,' and trustworthiness, 'xin.' Dr Salome Nyambura, director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, told CGTN that close people-to-people exchanges between China and Kenya have made more Kenyans interested in Confucianism. Echoing Nyambura, Riccardo Pozzo, professor of History of Philosophy at Tor Vergata University of Rome, said that Confucianism can provide valuable solutions to bridge traditional and modern issues and solve modern problems, citing the saying from the Analects that 'If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge and continually acquires new knowledge, he may become a teacher to others.' Global modernization deeply rooted in fertile soil of civilizations As well as fueling academic dialogue and people-to-people connections, exchanges among civilizations are also expected to generate valuable insights to tackle global challenges and open up diverse pathways for modernization. China is committed to offering new opportunities to the world through the achievements of its unique path to modernization, and providing new momentum to global partners through its vast domestic market, Sun Chunlan, president of the International Confucian Association, said when addressing the opening of the forum. China's poverty alleviation efforts and global cooperation on poverty reduction have provided relevant examples, demonstrating that the development of civilization should be 'people-oriented' and that the fruits of development can benefit more groups. Wang Xuedian, vice president of the International Confucian Association, said that civilizations must engage in dialogue and mutual learning to explore development paths that align with their own cultural contexts. By drawing on advanced productive forces and promoting traditional values, different civilizations can bridge developmental gaps and realize the common prosperity and harmonious coexistence of multiple civilizations, Wang added. As for Latheef, humanity must work together to safeguard cultural traditions and values while embracing new ideas and changes to adapt to global modernization. Roger T. Ames, professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Hawaii and Humanities Chair Professor at Peking University, said that the urgent task is to transform individualism into a conscious awareness of a united global community, adding that the Confucian values of fairness, inclusiveness and harmony offer valuable guidance for addressing the pressing challenges of the modern world. Hashtag: #CGTN The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
The Family Man & Farzi co-creator Raj Nidimoru's wife posts about ‘causing pain' after Samantha Ruth Prabhu's pictures with him grab headlines: ‘Hurt not others in ways that you...'
While these pics have once again sparked the dating speculations between Sam and Raj, the latter's wife has shared cryptic posts among these rumours read more Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru have once grabbed headlines thanks to the former's Instagram pictures from Detroit. The duo has garnered the limelight with two pictures in a series of images, as in one of them, Samantha and Raj can be seen walking hand-in-hand and sitting close to each other. While these pics have once again sparked the dating speculations between Sam and Raj, the latter's wife has shared cryptic posts among these rumours. Amid Raj and Shhyamali's marriage status remains unclear, the director's wife took to her Instagram Stories to share several cryptic posts after Sam's pics with Raj went viral. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The heading of one of her posts reads, 'Life's great golden rule.' It had list of religions and their teachings, starting with 'Brahmanism: This is the sum of duty. Do not unto others which would cause you pain if done to you,' followed by, 'Buddhism: Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.' With the concept of karma and hurting, it followed the teachings of Christianity, Confucianism, Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Taoism. The other post depicted the teachings of Lord Krishna as it read, 'Arjuna: 'If not victory nor defeat, then what matters?' Krishna: 'Dharma alone matters.'' Sharing the post, she wrote, 'Wednesday Wisdom.' Reacting to the post, one fan wrote, 'So u're soft lunching ur relationship with Raj… But as a great fan of urs I wanna say don't make the same mistake that ur ex did.. Dating a married person is never okay! Didn't expect that from u.' Samantha has worked Raj & DK duo together in The Family Man 2 and Citadel: Honey Bunny. She has collaborated with them for the third time for Rakt Brahmand: The Bloody Kingdom' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The show also features Aditya Roy Kapur, Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi and Jaideep Ahlawat. The upcoming fantasy period drama series Rakht Brahmand, produced by visionary filmmakers Raj & DK and directed by Rahi Anil Barve, the mastermind behind Tumbbad.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Science
- Korea Herald
Nishan Forum highlights cultural diversity, global dialogue
QUFU, China, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Nishan in Qufu, East China's Shandong province, the birthplace of Confucianism and hometown of Confucius, has turned into a center of cultural exchanges, as global scholars and experts are gathering to discuss various topics related to world civilizations and human progress. The 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations opened in Qufu on July 9, attracting over 400 experts and scholars from more than 70 countries around the world. With the tagline "Beauty in Diversity: Nurturing Understanding among Civilizations for Global Modernization", the forum aims to foster global dialogue and deepen mutual understanding among diverse cultures. From the co-development of diverse civilizations to innovation in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), six keynote speeches were delivered during the opening ceremony. When envisioning the future, one concept stands out: "harmony in diversity". This is the ideal that the great Chinese sage Confucius presented to the world. "The future is not as a battlefield of civilizations but as a garden of civilizations," said Chhem Kieth Rethy, senior minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in his keynote speech. He also emphasized the timeliness of the forum's theme. According to Rethy, civilization should not be seen as a "soft" topic, "but as a foundation for resilient and peaceful societies". Steve Fuller from the Department of Sociology at University of Warwick in the United Kingdom discussed how to protect human creativity in a world of globalized AI. No human being produces something entirely alone, according to Fuller. This might be ignored while doing research, but AI reminds us of this fact, he added. Jean Louis Robinson Richard, ambassador of Madagascar to China, praised the forum as a valuable platform for deepening intercultural dialogue. "Through events like the Nishan Forum, China has made great contributions to promoting world peace and fostering harmony among diverse cultures and civilizations," he said. The forum will run through July 10, with participants engaging in dialogues on topics such as the origins and future development of civilizations, the global significance of Confucian culture, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of human civilization. In addition, seven parallel forums are being held, focusing on a range of topics including overseas Chinese communities, Confucian dialogue, China-Egypt exchanges on ancient civilizations, world cultural heritage, and traditional Chinese medicine.
